Irish Court Finds US Company's Bread... Isn't Bread
2020-10-08
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1The highest court in Ireland has ruled that bread sold by an American fast-food restaurant cannot be legally defined as bread.
2The court said Subway restaurant's bread contains so much sugar that it failed to meet the legal definition of the food product.
3The ruling came in a tax dispute brought by Bookfinders Limited, which operates Subway restaurants in Ireland.
4Bread is one of the world's most popular foods.
5It is made from a mixture of flour, water and yeast, which causes the bread to expand when heated.
6Bookfinders had argued that some of its takeaway, or take-out, products should not be subject to a value-added tax.
7The list of products included hot drinks, such as tea and coffee, and heated sandwiches.
8Ireland's Supreme Court rejected the company's appeal.
9Its judges ruled that the bread sold by Subway contains too much sugar to be considered a "staple food."
10A staple food is something that is eaten all the time and part of many people's diets.
11Such foods are not subject to the value-added taxed.
12"There is no dispute that the bread supplied by Subway in its heated sandwiches has a sugar content of 10% of the weight of the flour included in the dough, and thus exceeds the 2% specified," the court said.
13The law notes a difference between "bread as a staple food" and other baked goods "which are, or approach...fancy baked goods," the judgement read.
14Subway disagreed with the court's findings in a statement.
15"Subway's bread is, of course, bread," the company said in an email.
16"We have been baking fresh bread in our restaurants for more than three decades and our guests return each day for sandwiches made on bread that smells as good as it tastes."
17Bookfinders was appealing a 2006 decision by officials who refused to return value-added tax payments to the company.
18Lower courts had dismissed the case before it reached the Supreme Court.
19Subway said last week it was studying the latest tax ruling.
20I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1The highest court in Ireland has ruled that bread sold by an American fast-food restaurant cannot be legally defined as bread. The court said Subway restaurant's bread contains so much sugar that it failed to meet the legal definition of the food product. 2The ruling came in a tax dispute brought by Bookfinders Limited, which operates Subway restaurants in Ireland. 3Bread is one of the world's most popular foods. It is made from a mixture of flour, water and yeast, which causes the bread to expand when heated. 4Bookfinders had argued that some of its takeaway, or take-out, products should not be subject to a value-added tax. The list of products included hot drinks, such as tea and coffee, and heated sandwiches. 5Ireland's Supreme Court rejected the company's appeal. Its judges ruled that the bread sold by Subway contains too much sugar to be considered a "staple food." 6A staple food is something that is eaten all the time and part of many people's diets. Such foods are not subject to the value-added taxed. 7"There is no dispute that the bread supplied by Subway in its heated sandwiches has a sugar content of 10% of the weight of the flour included in the dough, and thus exceeds the 2% specified," the court said. 8The law notes a difference between "bread as a staple food" and other baked goods "which are, or approach...fancy baked goods," the judgement read. 9Subway disagreed with the court's findings in a statement. 10"Subway's bread is, of course, bread," the company said in an email. "We have been baking fresh bread in our restaurants for more than three decades and our guests return each day for sandwiches made on bread that smells as good as it tastes." 11Bookfinders was appealing a 2006 decision by officials who refused to return value-added tax payments to the company. Lower courts had dismissed the case before it reached the Supreme Court. 12Subway said last week it was studying the latest tax ruling. 13I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 15________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17flour - n. fine particles made from grain 18sandwich - n. a food product made with two pieces of bread, meat, cheese or other filling between them 19dough - n. a mixture of flour, water and other materials that is cooked 20exceed -v. to go beyond a limit, to surpass something 21specified - adj. named in a document or speech 22bake - v. to cook by dry heat 23fancy -adj. special, costly or done with care 24decade - n. a period of 10 years 25We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.